File a Petition in Riley County District Court within 2 years of the crash. If a city or county vehicle was involved, a separate written notice can come much sooner, so that part is not one to drift on.

Before you know what counts as proof, most people save only the obvious things: ER bills, a few pay stubs, maybe photos of the bike on K-18 or near Tuttle Creek Boulevard. That shows you were hurt. It does not fully prove what the injury will cost your family next year or five years from now.

After you know what to gather, the case changes. For future lost income in Kansas, the key is evidence tying your injury to a reduced ability to earn, not just missed work right now.

The strongest proof usually includes:

• a treating doctor's records stating your permanent restrictions and whether you reached maximum medical improvement
• an impairment rating under accepted medical guidelines, if one applies
• a functional capacity evaluation showing what you can and cannot do on the job
• wage records: W-2s, tax returns, overtime history, bonus records, and payroll stubs
• employer records showing missed work, lighter duty, lost promotions, or a job you can no longer perform
• if the loss is substantial, a vocational expert comparing your old earning capacity to what jobs you can realistically do now in the Manhattan area
• for major injuries, a life care plan or doctor opinion on future treatment that will keep affecting your work

Kansas is a no-fault state, so your own PIP coverage may pay some wage loss early. But PIP is limited. If spring or summer rider crash injuries leave you with long-term limits, the bigger claim depends on showing the difference between your pre-crash work life and your post-crash earning future - on paper, with medical support, not just because it feels obvious.